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Editorial

Marathon miracles

Mile markers will inspire runners to raise money for kids’ health

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Two great Columbus institutions have combined for a second year with today’s Nationwide Children’s Hospital Marathon and 1/2 Marathon.

First staged in 1980, the event now benefits and honors children who receive life-transforming treatment at the hospital — giving inspiration to participants and enhancing the marathon’s profile and reputation.

Running any marathon is a major accomplishment for those who do it, especially for those who may have overcome illness or have lost a good deal of weight. Today’s marathon takes that feeling of accomplishment for its thousands of runners a step further, by attaching real and inspiring personal stories to each mile of the route. Those who live or work around Downtown may have noticed 8-foot-high mile markers going up throughout last week, adorned with the faces of heroes: kids whose lives have been dramatically bettered or even saved by Nationwide Children’s.

While it’s impressive that an adult can successfully complete a 26-mile race, these youngsters have been through things that no person, let alone a young child, should have to endure, from leukemia to cerebral palsy to terrible accidents that result in traumatic brain injury.

Corporate sponsors from around central Ohio, including Nationwide (the company), Limited Brands and The Dispatch, are sponsoring specific miles along the race dedicated to particular patients, helping give a major boost to the race’s fundraising.

Last year’s race generated more than $925,000 to support hospital and patient causes; as it did last year, the marathon again will match up to $100,000 in funds donated by participants, of which 7,000 are expected for the full marathon and 10,000 for the half-marathon from every state in the country, as well as several foreign nations.

And the participants themselves are very motivated. Besides being inspired by the children featured by race organizers this year, many runners have very personal reasons for taking part in this particular race.

Corey Stiver had signed up for the half-marathon last year, shortly before learning she was pregnant and being told by her doctor that she should not take part because of health concerns.

Just days after being born in April, her son, Noah, underwent open-heart surgery at Nationwide Children’s to correct a congenital heart defect. Stiver, herself a doctor, says it was “the least I could to” to train, fundraise and run in Noah’s name this year.

Other runners, such as Kylee Bornhorst, have themselves been patients at Nationwide Children’s. At 19, Bornhurst was diagnosed with a rare form of pediatric cancer and underwent treatment at the hospital. The experience had a profound effect on her decision to go into children’s psychology; now an employee of Nationwide Children’s, she will be running the marathon this year to celebrate her “good health and a second chance at life.”

These are the kinds of stories Nationwide Children’s makes possible every day, through its world-class care of children. Central Ohio residents are fortunate to have such an institution in Columbus; taking part in and donating through the marathon gives them a way to repay the many favors it has done in changing and saving lives.